Remembering The Stonewall Riots 50 Years Later

A look back at the famous protests that led to queer liberation on an international scale

By
Devin Hammond

Jun 28, 2019

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On June 28, 1969, events unfolded in the heart of Greenwich Village that would change the face of LGBTIQA+ rights (and human rights) forever. The Stonewall Inn Protests, incited by a police raid at the Stonewall Inn, a popular New York City pro-gay establishment, forever changed the fabric of queer liberation on an international scale. In honor of Pride Month and the 50th anniversary of the Riots, CR celebrates the individuals who continue to take a stand for gay liberation, while looking back on photos of Pride celebrations in and around the Stonewall Inn.

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A group photo outside of the Stonewall Inn, circa 1968. The famous West Village establishment was purchased by Mafia members in 1966, and quickly gained popularity among the gay community as one of the few establishments that permitted same sex dancing.

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Police raids were common in gay establishments during the time, mainly because many did not possess proper liquor licenses. However, on June 27, police entered the Inn and began to intimidate and arrest members. The encounter turned sour when patrons saw officers slam a lesbian woman against a police car. It was then that the crowd began to fight back. In the early hours of June 28, unplanned protests broke out between several Stonewall Inn attendees and officers on Christopher Street. The skirmishes between police and guests eventually culminated after six days of resistance.

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The events at Stonewall Inn made front page headlines the following weekend. "All hell broke loose when the police entered the Stonewall," according to the report here.

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An image of Stonewall Inn on July 8, 1969, just 10 days after the start of the protests. After the conflict, the bar sustained significant damage and eventually closed, becoming home to other restaurants and establishments for over 20 years. For many years after Stonewall, residents in and around Greenwich Village remained largely unaware of the gravity of the events that unfolded there.

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On Sunday June 28, 1970 one of the first Pride parades was held in New York City in remembrance of the events at Stonewall the prior year. Organized by gay activist groups, the march was known as Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day, a name that was recognized in other cities and employed for several following years.

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The actual Stonewall building, including the immediate surrounding areas, was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in June of 1999. The Stonewall Inn (as it exists today) re-opened in 2007. In 2016, President Barack Obama designated the location a National Historic Monument, therefore making it the first LGBTIQA+ landmark. Additionally, it is the first New York state-recognized LGBTIQA+ historical site.

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An image of trans activist Marsha P. Johnson, formerly known as the Queen of Stonewall. She is considered one of the main heroes of the conflict, and gained global recognition for her defensive efforts against violent officers.

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Johnson pictured here with friend and fellow trans activist Sylvia Rivera. Both women were integral to gay liberation efforts before, during, and after the Stonewall riots. Together, they founded the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR), which aimed to provide support for transgender individuals. Here, the two are pictured outside New York's City Hall at a gay rights rally in April 1973.

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Members of the New York City Gay Activists Alliance are joined by members of the Washington, D.C. chapter during rallies for Christopher Street Gay Liberation Day in 1971. Year after year, the marches grew in size, and eventually evolved into what we now know as global Pride.

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Gay rights protestors continued to face conflict in the years following the Stonewall Riots. Here, protestors gather around an ally who was knocked down during a fight at a pride march in New York in 1977.

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The first National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights was held in Washington, D.C. in October 1979. Thousands of supporters flocked to the capital.

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On June 26, 1994, commemorative rallies were held across New York City honoring the efforts of the Stonewall protests. Several activist groups around the city, including thousands of supporters, took to the streets to shed light on prominent issues impacting both local and international LGBTIQA+ communities.

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The 1994 marches marked 25 years since the initial Stonewall uprising.

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During the 25th Anniversary march in New York, activists advocated for awareness about the AIDS epidemic that began devastating many in the LGBTIQA+ community during the 1980s.

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Marchers unfold a rainbow flag above the crowd at the 25th Anniversary march.

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A couple stops for ice cream after NYC's Pride Parade in 2014. The 2019 New York parade will be held on June 30, with estimations of millions in attendance.

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The exterior of the Stonewall Inn on its 40th anniversary during 2009's Pride Month.

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Stonewall has continued to serve as a site of resistance and hope for the LGBTIQA+ community. In 2016, the site hosted a memorial honoring the victims of the Orlando nightclub shooting, which claimed the lives of 50 individuals in June 12, 2016.

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Over the years, several high profile celebrities have made appearances at the Stonewall, including Ke$ha, Janet Mock, Neil Patrick Harris, and Sara Bareilles. Stonewall has also been the site of multiple surprise live performances: Just last week, Taylor Swift took to Stonewall's stage to perform an acoustic version of her hit song, "Shake It Off." But nothing can top Madonna's impromptu 2018 New Year's Eve performance, where she dedicated a rendition of Elvis Presley's famous tune "Can't Help Falling In Love With You" to the crowd. After her performance, she shared a tweet reaffirming her long-time support for LGBTIQA+ communities.

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Swift performing at the AEG and Stonewall Inn's pride celebration on June 14, 2019. She was introduced by Modern Family actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

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